Our Stories

One of the most powerful ways to gain greater insight towards the experiences of mental illness in multicultural communities is to listen to people share their own stories, in their own unique way.

Below we have a series of personal stories developed by Embrace Multicultural Mental Health. These stories feature members of the Project's Lived Experience Group. This group is a key advisory group to the Embrace project. You can also access a series of personal stories created by and developed by Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI).

These videos are free to use for training purposes. Please ensure credit is given to Embrace Multicultural Mental Health.

You can find more videos of people from multicultural backgrounds talking about their experience caring for someone with mental illness at Victorian Transcultural Mental Health.

Select a language from the dropdown menu to view available videos.

Look after your mental health - Sachi - English (English Subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Sachi - English (Japanese Subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Ali - Arabic (Arabic Subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Ali - Arabic (English Subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Naseema and Anup (English and Hindi subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Nevena - Bosnian (Bosnian Subtitles)

Look after your mental health - Nevena - Bosnian (English Subtitles)

Disability and discrimination – Fighting the stigma of mental illness

Available in English and Croatian

Nevena's Story - Part 2 - Bosnian (English Subtitles)

John's Story

Watch and listen to John's story

Ali's Story

Watch and listen to Ali's story

Thir's Story

Watch and listen to Thir's story

Naseema's Story

Watch and listen to Naseema's story

Nevena's Story

Watch and listen to Nevena's story

Lisa's Story

Watch and listen to Lisa's story

Jennie's Story

Watch and listen to Jennie's story

Viji's Story

Watch and listen to Viji's story

I am Colours, Tuan.

‘Colours within me connect me to colours around me.’ Tuan sews beautiful handmade objects and uses his keen sense of colour to connect with other people and the world around him.

Watch on Youtube

Becoming, Nevena.

From civil war, loss and uncertainty to safety: a refugee’s unfolding story. A lifelong journey toward happiness and inner peace.

Watch on Youtube

The Visual Conductor, Maria.

A story about family expectations, taking charge and staying well involving art, personal goals and play.

Linh’s Story, Linh.(English Subtitles)

Linh discusses overcoming severe mental illness with the help of her loving family, feeling welcome in new country and going on holidays. Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Spreading Joy, Kim. (English Substitles)

Origami, laughter, good food, kindness: Kim’s ingredients for a fulfilled life and taking a positive approach to recovery. Mandarin with English subtitles.

Watch on Youtube

Psychiatric Superhero, James.

The author voices scenes from his graphic novel about a light warrior’s deep inner struggles and his resolve to overcome them.

Watch on Youtube

Doe Doh’s Story, Doe Doh. (English Subtitles)

A harsh childhood lived on the Thai-Burma border, yearning for freedom and seizing the possibilities of ‘now’. Karen with English subtitles.

My Faith, My Anchor, Chandima.

Chandima’s story is about migration from Sri Lanka, faith in God and her family: inspirations for personal recovery and the desire to help others.

Watch on Youtube

Dear Self, Akeemi.

Childhood memories, moving to a new country, feelings of isolation and efforts to connect are among experiences that inspire Akeemi’s healing ‘letter to self’, with original drawings and paintings.

Watch on Youtube